Apparatus for the electrolytical decomposition of alkali-chlorid solutions.



J. J. RINK. APPARATUS FOR THE ELEOTROLYTIOAL DECOMPOSITION 0F ALKALI GHLORID SOLUTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1909.

' Patented Jan.25,1910.

- 3 we wtoz @51 w kz Fol-IAN JACOB RINK, 0F COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.

sonu'rrons. I

Original application filed May a, race,

To allwhom it may concern: 7

Be it known'that I, JoHAN JAcoB RINK, a citizen of the Kingdom of Denmark,re-. siding at Copenhagen, in said Kingdom of Denmark, have invented certain new and useful Im Jrovements in Apparatus for the Electrolytical Decomposition of Alkali-Chlorid Solutions, of which the followingis a specification. i

This invention relates to an im roved apparatus for treating alkali chlorid'solutions by electrolysis, this ap lication. being a divisional application of rial No. 315,127, filed May 4, 1906.

, In the application referred to there is described an apparatus'in which the film of mercury which forms the cathode use upon the bottom of a suitable .vessel, sothat amalganiation takes place only at the upper surface of such film.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which both surfaces of the mercury film are utilized for amalgamating,

surfaces, and instead of a horizontal film the mercury is caused to flow over opposite surfaces of an upright conduit-plate at both. sidesof which the amalgamation takes lace, there being anodes-at opposite sides oi said conduit-plate and diaphragms by which the bubbles of chlorin gias generated at the anodes are prevente from reaching the cathode formed by said conduit-plate and the stream of mercury flowing over the same. Means are also provided by which the deposited metal is removed from the mercury by suitable apparatus and by which the mercury is returned to the conduit-plate for further use. 7 i

. The novel features of the invention will appear from the following description and the appended claims.

The drawing shows in vertical section an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; I

The receptacle (1, which contains the electrolyte, has laced at'the center thereof an upright per orated metal plate f, termed a conduit-plate, which, in connection with the stream of mercury. flowing downwardly over 0 posite surfaces thcreoffrom the top of t e receptacle, forms the cathode. The mercury is delivered to the upper end of the Specification of Letters Patent.

my application Sethe conduit-cathode. .placeda short tube we provided with a mer- Patented Jan. as, iaio.

Serial No. 315,127. Divided and this-application filed January 7, 190a. Serial no. 471,140. g

plate 7 by "a pipe a. Anodes 0, formed of ars or plates of carbon or like material, extend downwardly through the insulated coverof the receptacle a at opposite sides of the conduitlate, and between each anode and the conduit-plate f is interposed a diaphragm I). These diaphragms separate the receptacle a into three vertical spaces or compartments which are shut off from each other, the middle compartment 9 containing the conduit-plate 7, while the other compartments or spaces'a contain the anodes. The compartment or space 9 is located at op posite sides of the cathode f and contains the pure solution, it' being connected by means of upper and lower pipes h, h with a concentration vessel 2' in which the chlorid to be treated is placedin solid form. The circulation of the pure solution is produced through said pipes and concentration vessel. The spaces a are connected in-a similar manner bymeans of pipes j, 7' with a second conceptrationvessel 70, whereby the circulation of the solution contained in the spaces a is produced. i

Below the electrolyte receptacle a is a washing box 0 into whichthe mercury amalgam passes-by means of an opening in the bottom of the receptacle a directly beneath our seal m from which pipes. 72 extend ra dia ly'directly over washlng plates formed In this openingis by supportin plates 0* over which wire nettings s are p aced. Interposed between the washin plates are vertical metal plates 25 adapted to be electro-negatively charged. The pipe at is connected with the washing box 0 at its lower portion, saidpipe. being connected to a suitable pump n by which the washed mercury is pumped back to the conduit-plate f. A pipe C connected with the electrolyte receptacle carries'off the chlorin gas, while a pipe H connected with the washing box 0 takes off the hydrogen generated. The anodes c are connected to the positive pole of a'source of electricity a, the negative pole of which is connected to the mercury-conducting pipe at, as indicated.

The operationof the apparatus is as follows: The receptacle a is filled with the electrolyte up to the line Z, and the electric oursurfaces the amalgam is formed in the well known manner. The circulation of the elecby the pipes and concentration vessels hereclaim as new and desire to secure by' Let- 2s film adaptedto receive a deposit at both rent being turned on the mercury is pumped through the pipe n until it discharges over the conduit-plate f down which it runs at opposite surfaces of said plate, at which trolyte in the spaces a and g is produced inbefore described. The diaphragms Z) separate the pure electrolyte from that contained in the anode compartments (1 in which the chlorin bubbles are formed, these bubbles being thus prevented from reaching the cathode. The washing of the mercury takes place in the Washing box 0 which is filled with water or diluted lye up to the line u. After the deposited metal has been removed from the mercury and the latter thoroughly washed, it. is again returned by means of the pump a and pipe n to the conduit-cathode.

Having thus described my invention, I

ters Patent: v

1. An alkali electrolyzer comprising a vessel containing the chlorid solution, a perforated cathode presenting a "single mercury sides, diaphragms at both sides of the cathode, anodes located outside -of the diahra ms and means for retainin con'cen- I P a trated solution inside and outside of the diaphragms. v

2. An alkali electrolyzer comprising a vessel containing the active solution, anodes in the same, a perforated conduit-cathode located between the anodes and presenting a single mercury-film adapted to receive a deposit at both sides, and means for washing off the amalgam and returning the same I said vessel, means for spreading the amalgain over the washing plates, metal plates between the washing plates, means for conducting the amalgam from the cathode to the Washing plates, and means for returning the washed ofi mercury to the conduitcathode.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing .as m invention I have si ned m name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, J OI-IAN JACOB RINK.

Witnesses:

P. HOFFMAN BANG, a EMIL MOWRITZEN. 

